Optical ferrule for multi-fiber cable and hardened multi-fiber optic connector therefore

Abstract

A multi-fiber cable assembly includes an optical connector and a cable. The optical connector includes a connector body; an optical ferrule body, and alignment elements. The optical ferrule body has an end face defining a plurality of alignment openings arranged in rows and has a plurality of buckling chambers. Each buckling chamber is aligned with one of the rows of the alignment openings. The optical fibers of the cable have bare portions secured at a first end of the optical ferrule body using rigid epoxy. Each of the optical fibers is routed through one of the buckling chambers to one of the alignment holes.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A hardened fiber optic connector arrangement comprising:
 a housing arrangement extending between a front and a rear, the front of the housing arrangement including a forward-facing surface, the forward-facing surface defining a plurality of apertures, the rear of the housing arrangement defining a strength member anchoring section; 
 a plurality of spring-biased multi-fiber ferrules carried by the housing arrangement, each of the multi-fiber ferrules being disposed at one of the apertures so that a portion of the multi-fiber ferrule extends forwardly of the forward-facing surface, each of the multi-fiber ferrules defines at least seventy-two alignment openings for holding optical fibers; 
 an environmental seal carried by the housing arrangement at an exterior of the housing arrangement; and 
 a twist-to-lock fastener that activates the environmental seal carried by the housing arrangement. 
 
     
     
       2. The hardened fiber optic connector arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the twist-to-lock fastener includes a threaded coupling nut. 
     
     
       3. The hardened fiber optic connector arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the twist-to-lock fastener includes a bayonet connection. 
     
     
       4. The hardened fiber optic connector arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein each of the multi-fiber ferrules defines at least ninety-six alignment openings. 
     
     
       5. The hardened fiber optic connector arrangement of  claim 4 , wherein each of the multi-fiber ferrules defines at least 144 alignment openings. 
     
     
       6. The hardened fiber optic connector arrangement of  claim 5 , wherein the alignment openings of each multi-fiber ferrule are disposed in a 12×12 configuration. 
     
     
       7. The hardened fiber optic connector arrangement of  claim 5 , wherein the alignment openings are disposed in a 8×18 configuration. 
     
     
       8. The hardened fiber optic connector arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the housing arrangement includes a connector housing and an external sleeve mounted around the connector housing, the connector housing carrying the multi-fiber ferrules, and the external sleeve carrying the environmental seal. 
     
     
       9. The hardened fiber optic connector arrangement of  claim 8 , wherein the connector housing includes a plurality of pieces. 
     
     
       10. The hardened fiber optic connector arrangement of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of pieces includes a body and a cover section that cooperate to retain the multi-fiber ferrules at the connector housing. 
     
     
       11. The hardened fiber optic connector arrangement of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of pieces also includes a second cover section that cooperates with the body to define the strength member anchoring section. 
     
     
       12. The hardened fiber optic connector arrangement of  claim 11 , wherein a reinforcing sleeve mounts over the body and the second cover section beneath the external sleeve. 
     
     
       13. The hardened fiber optic connector arrangement of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of pieces also includes a front end piece that keys to the external sleeve. 
     
     
       14. The hardened fiber optic connector arrangement of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of pieces includes a body and a front end piece, the body carrying the multi-fiber ferrules, and the front end piece cooperating with the external sleeve to capture the body therebetween. 
     
     
       15. The hardened fiber optic connector arrangement of  claim 1 , further comprising an optical cable including a plurality of optical fibers having ends terminated at the multi-fiber ferrules. 
     
     
       16. The hardened fiber optic connector arrangement of  claim 15 , wherein the optical cable includes a strength member retained at the strength member anchoring section of the housing arrangement. 
     
     
       17. The hardened fiber optic connector arrangement of  claim 16 , wherein the optical cable includes a jacket, and wherein the housing arrangement includes teeth that engage the jacket of the optical cable. 
     
     
       18. The hardened fiber optic connector arrangement of  claim 15 , wherein the optical cable includes a jacket, and wherein the housing arrangement includes teeth that engage the jacket of the optical cable. 
     
     
       19. The hardened fiber optic connector arrangement of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of optical fibers includes 144 optical fibers. 
     
     
       20. The hardened fiber optic connector arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of multi-fiber ferrules includes two multi-fiber ferrules, each of the multi-fiber ferrules being independently movable relative to the other.